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I dropped Lucy at Sniff Dog Hotel Wednesday evening, then went home to pack my bags. I had to get up before the birds Thursday – the 7:58 a.m. flight I booked a few months ago had been changed to a 5:15 a.m. flight. But, the universe was shining down on me, despite the early hour. There was no line at the check-in counter and the security screening line was quick. My flight departed on time and we actually arrived 30 minutes before the scheduled time.

I took the train from the airport to Union Station, which was excellent value – $9 instead of a $60 taxi ride! I arrived at my hotel around 10, after a short walk from the station. I planned to ask the Hyatt Regency if I could drop my bag until check-in time later in the afternoon, but they anticipated people arriving early and I got my room! I dropped my bags and went out to explore a little bit of Denver.

I’d scoped out a few places I wanted to see near the hotel. My first stop was the only yarn shop downtown, called The Yarn Shoppe! I had a nice chat with the woman behind the counter. I was a bit hungry, so stopped by Five on Black, where I had a delicious bowl.

The next few days promises a lot of sitting, and I want to be sure I eat healthy food before we open the snack containers during our meetings and discussions.

Refreshed and energized, I walked to the Tattered Cover Book Store. It was just a browsing visit, but well worth stopping by.

I was starting to feel weary and decided to head back to the hotel for a nap before meeting my committee colleagues for dinner. I simply HAD to stop at the The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City – Denver Branch. It was a small but very interesting place to stop. I took a bag of money as a a souvenir.

According to what I read at the museum, this Denver branch shreds 320,000 bank notes EVERY DAY! I guess that’s why they give these bags away as free souvenirs.

Back at the hotel, I took a short nap. Here is the view from my window. You can see the mountains in the distance and the Convention Center, only one block away. I am looking forward to meeting the bear tomorrow when I pick up my badge first thing in the morning.

The nine Sibert Committee members met for dinner at a marvelous restaurant called Rioja. Our chair made the reservation here because the restaurant came highly recommended, but also because the executive chef is a woman. Here is my plate: grilled lamb loin, pomegranate-black truffle risotto, Brussels sprouts, black trumpet mushrooms, pomegranate molasses

The meal was delicious and it was wonderful to talk with the other committee members in anticipation of the discussions we will have tomorrow.